Some Sample Conversations

Conversation 1

Catriona: I'm a new mum, so excuse me if I'm a bit tired.

Donna: Oh, really? My husband and I have two children, both under 5. I remember how tired I was when they were younger.

Catriona: That must be a lot of work.

Donna: I'm very lucky. Our in-laws live nearby and they help with the children a lot.

Catriona: My father and mother live nearby, so I guess I'm pretty lucky, too!

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Conversation 2

Inese: Did you travel to London on your own?

Hanne: No! My husband and our two children are with me. We moved from Frankfurt 5 months ago.

Inese: You must miss your family.

Hanne: Yes, I come from a small family. We are very close. But I'll visit them in September.

Inese: My family comes from Latvia. My father is an Engineer, too.

Hanne: Do you have any children?

Inese: No, it's just me and my fiance for the moment!

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Conversation 3

John: My partner and I love it here. There is so much to do.

Antoinette: My husband and I moved here a year ago.  My husband loves nature. We go walking in the mountains every weekend.

John: My daughter loves the mountains too.

Antoinette: How many children do you have?

John: Well, there’s my daughter, who is a teenager; and we have a 12-year-old son.

Antoinette: That must be nice! I come from a big family back in the U.S. I miss having children around.

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Questions

1. How does Catriona say she has just had a baby?

2. True or false: Donna's children are both older than 5 years old.

3. In what way are Catriona and Donna lucky?

4. What indirect question does Inese use to find out if Hanne has a family?

5. Is Inese married?

6. Does Hanne have one child or more?

7. What is Inese’s job?

8. Is John married?

9. Does Antoinette have any children?

10. How many children does John have?

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Answer Key

1. I'm a new mum, so excuse me if I'm a bit tired.

2. False

3. Their in-laws or parents live nearby to help them with their children.

4. Did you travel to London on your own?

5. No, she is engaged to be married.

6. More than one.

7. She says her father is an Engineer too, so we can assume she is an Engineer.

8. We don't know if John is married because he uses the word 'partner',  instead of 'husband' or 'wife'.

9. Anthony said she misses having children around so we can assume she doesn't have any children.

10. Two